14:1 Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of
Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, a
Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that
[is] on the other side. But he told not his father.
(a) By this example God declared to Israel that the victory
did not consist in multitude or armour, but only
because of his grace.
14:6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour,
Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these b
uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us:
for [there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or
by few.
(b) That is, the Philistines.
14:7 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that [is] in
thine heart: turn thee; behold, c I [am] with thee
according to thy heart.
(c) I will follow you wherever you go.
14:9d If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you;
then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up
unto them.
(d) This he spoke by the spirit of prophecy, and by this God
gave him assurance of victory.
14:11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison
of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the
Hebrews come forth out of the e holes where they had hid
themselves.
(e) Thus they spoke contemptuously and by derision.
14:13 And Jonathan climbed up upon f his hands and upon his
feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before
Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.
(f) That is, he crept up, or went up with all haste.
14:14 And that g first slaughter, which Jonathan and his
armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were
an half acre of land, [which] a yoke [of oxen might plow].
(g) The second was when they slew one another, and the
third when the Israelites chased them.
14:15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and
among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they
also trembled, and the earth h quaked: so it was a very
great trembling.
(h) In that the insensible creatures tremble for fear of
God's judgment, it declares how terrible his vengeance
will be against his enemies.
14:19 And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest,
that the noise that [was] in the host of the Philistines
went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, i
Withdraw thine hand.
(i) Leave the Ephod alone, for I have no time now to ask
counsel from God, (Nu 27:21).
14:21 Moreover the Hebrews [that] were with the Philistines
before that time, which went up with them into the camp
[from the country] round about, even they also [turned] to
be with the k Israelites that [were] with Saul and
Jonathan.
(k) Though before for fear of the Philistines they
declared themselves as enemies to their brethren.
14:24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul
had adjured the people, saying, l Cursed [be] the man
that eateth [any] food until evening, that I may be
avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted
[any] food.
(l) Such was his hypocrisy and arrogancy, that he thought
to attribute to his policy that which God had given by
the hand of Jonathan.
14:26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the
honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for
the people feared the m oath.
(m) That is, the punishment if they break their oath.
14:27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people
with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod
that [was] in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and
put his hand to his mouth; and his n eyes were
enlightened.
(n) Which were dim before from weariness and hunger.
14:29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath o troubled the land:
see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened,
because I tasted a little of this honey.
(o) By making this cruel law.
14:33 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin
against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he
said, Ye have transgressed: p roll a great stone unto me
this day.
(p) That the blood of the beast that shall be slain, may
be pressed out upon it.
14:36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by
night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us
not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever
seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us q
draw near hither unto God.
(q) To ask counsel from him.
14:41 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give r
a perfect [lot]. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the
people escaped.
(r) Cause the lot to fall on him that has broken the oath,
but he does not consider his presumption in commanding
the same oath.
14:45 And the people said unto Saul, s Shall Jonathan die, who
hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid:
[as] the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head
fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day.
So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
(s) The people thought it their duty to rescue him, who
out of ignorance had broken a rash law, and by whom
they had received so great a benefit.
14:48 And he gathered an host, and smote the t Amalekites, and
delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled
them.
14:49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, u and Ishui, and
Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters [were
these]; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of
the younger x Michal:
(u) Called also Abinadab, (1Sa 31:2).
(x) Who was the wife of David, (1Sa 18:27).
14:50 And the name of Saul's wife [was] Ahinoam, the daughter of
Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host [was] y
Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
14:52 And there was sore war against the Philistines all the
days of Saul: z and when Saul saw any strong man, or any
valiant man, he took him unto him.
